Cars that last a million miles

[brig2221]

Growing up, my Father kept our cars FOREVER! I always thought it was crazy that he would keep old cars so long, but after getting married and starting my own life, I definitely see the wisdom in his thinking and action, or lack thereof.

The easy thing to do, and definitely the most popular thing to do is to buy new cars every 3-5 years, keeping up with the latest designs, styles, upgrades, etc. I bought my first brand new car when I was 25 or 26 years old after my first BIG promotion into managment. It was a 2000 Ford Explorer. I still drive that car today, some 88,000 miles later, and I plan on driving this car literally until the wheels fall off.

Anyhow, I came across this article on cars and this is the first place I thought to share the article:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...lionMiles.aspx

After reading this article, I don't think it's crazy at all to push the old Explorer to 200,000 miles if I can. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a new car, but I truly enjoy the knowledge that I own my car free and clear, and oh, that little side benefit of not having a car payment every month

[poundwise]

Thanks for the link. That is an interesting article.

[Broken Arrow]

Wow.

I remember talking to some freelance truckers who, of course, loved their trucks like it's their own baby. They once told me that those things are fully capable of hitting 1 million miles, and that's a very big deal considering how expensive they are, but more importantly, that a trucker's entire livelihood is literally riding on it.

However, this is the first time I've heard similar level of results for passenger vehicles. Those same truckers have told me that today's cars are designed to be relatively disposable... essentially good for around ten years. Because, if they could last forever, then the auto industry wouldn't make as much money off of the consumer. That and they'd be quite a bit more expensive.

I don't know how true that assertion is. I just don't know enough about cars to say. I also suspect that many people who are able to pull off those amazing mileages are also very mechanically-inclined... something that I am not (yet).

While I would love to have a million mile car, for now, I'll be happy if my Corolla can reach 250k.

[PRICEPLUS]

I see many Toyotas with a ton of miles on them. I am hoping to drive my Camry until it gives up the ghost. I have read the owners manual and I perform all the recommended maintenance. With any luck I'll get more than 15 years service form the car. I am not into keeping up with the Joneses and I hate dealing with car dealerships!

7 years and counting so far!

[Daylily]

My 1994 Olds 88 has 210,000 on it. I use it as a backup car. My two other cars are both Subarus and I am hoping that they last for years and years.
There is nothing better in this world than being without a car payment. At the moment I still have a payment on one of the cars.

[usnavy_233]

Thanks for the article. I just bought a 2007 Toyota Yaris Sedan and I plan on driving it until my 3YO daughter is ready for a car, then I'll pass it on to her. The article was very insightful.

[MonkeyMama]

Wow, that is really interesting. I have never heard of a car lasting 1 million miles - crazy - LOL.

I am just wondering how long an engine truly lasts, can 1 engine last that long??? IT appears they are talking original engine and all in the article - hmmmm.

My family has had its share of 200k+ cars. Toyotas. My dad is a little mechanically inclined, but overall we never did much. A mechanic told my dad change the oil every 6 months (we have adjusted for 1 Saturn I had that ran through oil pretty fast and my dh rarely drives so the rule is we change that one more often). But we followed that and only take the cars in when they needed repairs (heard a noise, something off). we weren't really big on much else, just checking fluid levels every month or so. The nice thing about having an older car is it usually goes to our mechanic every few months to a year and so they keep us updated what is wearing out what will need replacing, etc. It really doesn't take much but simple care to keep a Toyota running forever.

We have a used Ford and a dodge today which I don't expect to preform as well as our past toyotas and saturns. BUT we specifically picked cars that had a track record of going over 200k miles. To me that is how long a car should last.

I had just posted in my blog how my ancient, hi-mile saturn and toyota have performed far better and needed far less in repairs than any newer car our family has ever owned. You can pay $1k for one of these cars easy that has hit 100k miles and drive it another 100k.

[tinapbeana]

hehehe! my dad swears by subarus. he had one with 240k in miles and it ran like a champ, couldn't kill the thing. then one day someone ran a stop sign and t-boned him, ruined the frame on the car. funny part is: the engine kept right on running! the key got wedged in the ignition somehow during the accident and they couldn't get the car to turn off!

[Ima saver]

Well I don't mind driving older cars, but I feel nervous going on a long vacation in an old car. I did have a bronco once that had 165,000 miles on it and everything was good except the air conditioner. I gave it to someone that needed a car. Of course, they tore the thing up in a short time.

[LuxLiving]

I agree Ima, but always just thought if I was going to drive a long distance on a vacation in that instance that it would be far cheaper to rent a car for a week or two than to go back into car payment slavery.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

hehehe! my dad swears by subarus. he had one with 240k in miles and it ran like a champ, couldn't kill the thing.

When I was younger, I lusted for the Impreza WRX, though I didn't care for the oversized spoiler. It got to a point where even my wife at the time agreed that I could buy it if I realy wanted to. Of course, a tricked-out Impreza is still pretty hefty on the pocketbook, so I was the one who backed out.

[mom-from-missouri]

I have always driven Chevys. All of them made it to at least 200,000. I say at least, because some of them are still going (I sold them). I see my old Chevette every once in awhile when I go back home. I sold it in 1994 and it had 225,000 on it then. The same man still has it and drives it. Little stick shift-I had to fill it up once every 4-5 weeks, perfect body. I loved her...But, no room for 3 car seats in the back seat.

[Fern]

I once dated someone from New Hampshire who drove an old heap. We lost touch over the years, then reconnected much later when he was living in California. I was shocked to see he was still driving the same old heap!!

He used to have to carry a bottle of some additive around for when he filled the tank cus it still took leaded gas and i guess they don't make that anymore.

The most mortifying thing was the disgusting mess in the back seat and to preserve the seat cushions (on an already old car, why bother?) he insisted on keeping old white t-shirts pulled over the backs of them.

Driving around, we looked like the beverly hillbillies! I hated that car! It also burned oil and stunk.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by PRICEPLUS

I see many Toyotas with a ton of miles on them. I am hoping to drive my Camry until it gives up the ghost.

I don't know about a million, but I hope to get in the neighborhood of 200,000 on my 98 Camry. I'm at over 96,000 now, so only half-way there.

[kv968]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I don't know about a million, but I hope to get in the neighborhood of 200,000 on my 98 Camry. I'm at over 96,000 now, so only half-way there.

My 96 Corolla's up to 129,000 and still running fine (knock on wood)

[brig2221]

It's pretty cool to come back to this thread to see all of the people who have listed their cars and their mileage's. I am almost to the point to where it will be a badge of honor when my car reaches over 100,000 miles, and I won't be happy till it makes it to 200,000 miles. I have my doubts about the old Explorer and whether or not it can get there, but I certainly won't fail for a lack of trying.

I don't know what clicked inside me a year or so ago, but I can honestly say that I will never purchase an expensive car in my life, not because of not having the means, but because of how terrible of an investment they really are.

Like Dave Ramsey says, I'm going to find and buy a 1 year old car with 15-20K miles on it, letting someone else take the depreciation bath, not me.

[Gruntina]

Hmm.. my fiance drives two vehicle... A 1964 Ford pick-up. He still drives that thing to haul in home improvement stuff and his plants for his yard. Its rusted but it still serve it's prupose. The other vehicle he still drives and is also running good is his 1986 jeep. I never did think to look at his mileages on them. This article got me curious now.

My fiance is a ford technician...aka grease monkey. He can make anything last.

[tabbycat31]

just the title of this thread bugs me right now because my car just died and I need to replace it.
Luckily I have incredibly generous parents who have a spare car, and told me that it is mine until after tax season (I work as a tax preparer for a well known company) when I have more time to actually talk to dealers, test drive, etc.

[Coleroo]

my parents have always been that type - they refuse to get a new car and make payments. Growing up (i was born in 1982, they were born in the 40s) I was always embarrassed by our old "clunkers" ...like the green lizzie we had - it was lime green, had to have been from the 70s and was a mile long. I went to a private school the whole time (13 years) and always felt like the poorest one there and would be embarrassed to have mom or dad drive up to get me (in elementary dad would actually park in the back and WALK to the car line where everyone was pulling up to pick up their kids so i wouldnt be embarrassed by them going through the line in front of everyone). It was not till the past couple years that i TRULY realized just HOW MUCH of a sacrifice my parents made - the private school cost over $230 a month, not including all the extraneous school fees (band, choir, art, competitions), and girls had to wear nice dresses / skirts. That would have easily covered a NICE new car payment anytime through out the entire 90s decade!! Now that I am married with my own mortgage and a 365$ new car payment I just *had* to have back in 2004, i realize what they did for me... And they have never once complained or threw it up in my face how they sacrificed, or tried to make me "realize". They just sat back and waited for me to learn it on my own (lesson learned).

oh but wait... what was the point of this thread? oh oh yeh... cars that go a million miles. Mom and Dad still buy used cars - they've never paid more than $2500 for one. The car mom has now is a 94 plymouth sedan, still runs great, great heater and air, rides smooth - i checked it yesterday and it has over 163,000 miles on it. Dad has a 1989 chevy pick up work truck (he's self employeed as a fence man) he's had for about 4 years now and im sure it has over 200K mi on it. They also swear by chevrolet celebrities models, saying they were always one of the best used values they've ever bought.

Just the yesterday mom was talking about how things nowadays seem to be made cheaply and "for quick disposal". Being from the 40s, mom and dad also say theres a LOT of things that they would own for years that today it wouldnt last more than 3 years. Take mom's side by side GE frigadare refrigerator - it's older than I am!! Dad got it for her in like, 1979 or 1980. It's still the perfect fridge. Mom took a spell a few years ago thinking she wanted a smaller, newer one - she had it for 6 months and it broke down! She couldnt stand the new thing and had dad bring the old side by side back in from storage. She also has a big microwave she bought back in the early 90s when (regular!) walmart first appeared on the surface. It still works awesomely (10+ years and still going strong!). She got a little white microwave 4 months ago thinking she wanted something newer to match her new cabinets - and it started shooting fire out last month and... yep.. back out comes our good old trusty old microwave. lol My granny had an upright freezer for 40 years that was still working when she died in 2001. Newer washers and dryers have also been horrible compared to used older heavy duty ones mom has had in the past that seemed to last forever - the timing mechanism on the dryer she bought at lowes 3 years ago is already broke (it wont shut off automatically).

[Crystallas]

99 Escort that I put 260k miles on before that was passed onto another family member. It has 410k on it now, and still running strong.
We just donated a 93 Lumina that had 380k on it. It was still running fine, but the transmission was slipping around 2nd gear. Easy fix, but it was time to retire her for a more economical car.
But the cats meow has to be the 600k we had on a 1988 Plymouth Gran Fury. It ran fine when we junked it. We couldn't keep it because it wouldn't pass emissions. It would cost about $200 at the time to get it up to standards, but that was too much for a car that was worth maybe $100.
My sisters 99 Grand Am is close to 300k and its in top shape.
My 97 prelude, 96 probe, and 92 daytona all failed to hit 150k.
My 05 GTO hit 60k before I had costly problems with it. But those would have easily been remedied.
2001 328i that didnt hit 100k before the upkeep was more than the vehicle was worth.
Last but not least, a 95 Eclipse that didn't even make it to 100k, even with 2 engines.

Mind you, I have been working on cars all of my life, and have worked on a few crews in my time. I knew how to fix every one of them, it just didn't make sense.
Now I have a 07 Fusion, and barely have 1k on it, knock on wood LOL.

If you want a million mile car. Look at a diesel option.